Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
10
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Not Addressed
We heard from the Department that its officials had assessed each town against three qualitative criteria using the knowledge of its area-based teams, rather than consulting directly with local stakeholders. The Department argued that it gave more weight to the quantitative criteria in its assessment, and that its area-based teams …
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We heard from the Department that its officials had assessed each town against three qualitative criteria using the knowledge of its area-based teams, rather than consulting directly with local stakeholders. The Department argued that it gave more weight to the quantitative criteria in its assessment, and that its area-based teams have a lot of contact, engagement and dialogue with local areas, which means that their views are informed.21 Similarly, we heard that Ministers relied on the Department’s area-based teams rather than consult with local stakeholders, including Local Enterprise Partnerships and local MPs.22 Of particular concern is that directly elected mayors were not consulted, despite officials specifically recommending to Ministers that they do so.23 Ministers explicitly rejected the recommendation, deciding they wanted to make decisions themselves without seeking local views.24 The Department clarified that Ministers speak regularly with mayors but that dedicated engagement on the Towns Fund did not take place.25
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Government response AI summary
The government's response details ongoing engagement with local representatives and requirements for Town Deal Boards to involve local stakeholders, but it does not address the committee's observation regarding the lack of direct consultation or ministerial rejection of advice during the initial town selection process.
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HM Treasury
11
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Not Addressed
We queried why the Department had required a new tier of governance—Town Deal Boards—to be set up, rather than use existing governance structures to plan and implement the Towns Fund at the local level. The Department explained that existing structures, such as mayoral combined authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships, were …
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We queried why the Department had required a new tier of governance—Town Deal Boards—to be set up, rather than use existing governance structures to plan and implement the Towns Fund at the local level. The Department explained that existing structures, such as mayoral combined authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships, were not appropriate for overseeing support and interventions for individual towns. It said that government’s original rationale for the Towns Fund was to recognise and respond to issues at the town level, as place-based policies had previously been too focused on cities and resulted in towns being overlooked.26
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Government response AI summary
The government's response details its expectations for Town Deal Boards and their engagement but does not directly address the committee's query about the rationale for creating a new tier of governance instead of utilising existing local structures.
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HM Treasury
18
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Not Addressed
The Department told us that it is working at pace to agree the funding that will be available for the 13 towns in the first cohort and would like to be able to make decisions in October. But the Department did not want to guarantee it would meet that deadline …
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The Department told us that it is working at pace to agree the funding that will be available for the 13 towns in the first cohort and would like to be able to make decisions in October. But the Department did not want to guarantee it would meet that deadline and warned that it could take up to 12 months to agree business cases and issue final approvals before projects can begin.41 The Department told us that, while it would like to see as many projects as possible happen as quickly as possible, given the nature of construction projects and minor infrastructure works, if they are to happen robustly and safely, it would be some time before we see many projects on the ground.42
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Government response AI summary
The government's response, which incorrectly categorises the conclusion as a recommendation, details accelerated funding provided to towns due to COVID-19 but does not address the committee's observation regarding potential delays in agreeing funding and issuing final project approvals.
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HM Treasury
19
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
The Department has developed a funding profile for the Towns Fund over the next four financial years but does not know yet whether it aligns with towns’ individual investment plans. The Department explained that it wants the profile of funding over time to be led by what works in terms …
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The Department has developed a funding profile for the Towns Fund over the next four financial years but does not know yet whether it aligns with towns’ individual investment plans. The Department explained that it wants the profile of funding over time to be led by what works in terms of project delivery and that, as part of its assessment process, it wants to properly understand the profile of the individual projects that towns have put forward.43 Once it has this understanding, it will consolidate it at programme level to see if the funding profile is appropriate. However, the Department explained that the availability of this information requires towns to draft individual business cases for each project and that it would probably be well into next year before it had detailed financial profiles across the individual towns, and then at programme level.44 Alignment with other funds
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HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
Twenty-Fourth Report - Selecting towns …
Not Addressed
The Department confirmed that, despite the impact of Covid-19 on government spending plans, the £3.6 billion funding allocated to the Towns Fund is secure. It told us that it had no plans to do anything other than continue with the Towns Fund and to deliver the fund in a way …
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The Department confirmed that, despite the impact of Covid-19 on government spending plans, the £3.6 billion funding allocated to the Towns Fund is secure. It told us that it had no plans to do anything other than continue with the Towns Fund and to deliver the fund in a way that maximises the long-term economic growth and productivity of the towns.46
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Government response AI summary
The government's response, again incorrectly categorising the conclusion as a recommendation, details accelerated funding provided to towns due to COVID-19 but does not explicitly re-confirm the security of the £3.6 billion Towns Fund as stated in the committee's observation.
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HM Treasury